End-gate.



A., C. C. & W. CROOK.

END GATE. APPLICATION FILED APILZ], 19I6.

Patented Oct. 31, 1916.

TT @TT% ATNT FFTQE.

ALBERT GROOK, CHARLES C. CROOK, AND WILBUB CROOK, OF IDODGEVILLE, WISCONSIN.

END-GATE.

Application filed April 27, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ALBERT CRooK, CHARLES C. 012001;, and WILBUR Gnoon, citi- Zens of the United States, residing at Dodgeville, in the county of Iowa, State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in End-Gates; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in attaching means for vehicle end gates, and has for its primary object to provide a simplified construction for this purpose which performs theadditional function of holding the end gate against rattling.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character wherein a simplified end gate for the vehicle may be employed, and one which possesses greater strength or rigidity than the gates now commonly used on vehicle bodies.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an end gate fastening and locking means which is of simple and inexpensive construction, which is composed of but i few simple and readily assembled parts, all so constructed, arranged, and housed as to prevent breakage, derangement, or wear of the same, which is positive and reliable of operation, which is capable of being easily manipulated to release the gate, and which will prove thoroughly eflicient in the attainment of the ends for which it is designed.

With these objects in view, together with others which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the novel combination and arrangement of parts, all as will be describedmore fully hereinafter, illustrated in the drawings and particularly pointed out in the claims,

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1, is a plan view of the rear end of a conventional form of vehicle body, and

illustrating the application of an improved end gate and means for locking the same, Fig. 2, is a vertical sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, and illustrating the looking means in operative position, Fig. 3, is a view similar to Fig. 2 and illustrating the lock member retracted, and Fig. 4, is a sec.- tional view taken on line 4-4 of 2 Specification of Letters Patent.

Serial No. 94,005.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, 5 indicates the bottom of the usual well known wagon body or boX, from the lateral edges of which extend the uprights or side boards 6. Arranged upon the inner faces of the side boards 6 and spaced inwardly from the rear ends of the latter are vertically disposed cleats 7. One of these cleats is arranged upon each of the side boards, and may be formed of metal or wood as desired, the same being fastened to the said side boards by bolts or screws 8. A reinforcing plate, preferably of metal, is arranged upon the exterior of each of the side boards 6 opposite the cleats 7, the said bolts 8 extending through the said reinforcing plates 9 to hold the latter and the cleats firmly upon the side boards. The rear edge of each of the cleats 7 is cut away at the juncture of the cleat with the side board to provide a vertically disposed channel 10. Arranged in the rear of each cleat and firmly secured'to the side boards 6 by bolts 11 are housings 12. These housings are also disposed vertically and in spaced relation to the cleats 7, reinforcingplates 9 being arranged upon the exterior of the side boards to reinforce the latter, the said bolts 11 eX- tending through the housings, side boards, and plates. Each of the housings accommodate mechanism for locking the end gate between the sides 6, and the housings may be made of wood or metal as desired. The inner and forward edge of each housing is cut away to provide a channel 13 coextensive with the length of the housing and being disposed opposite to the channel 10 in each of the cleats.

The end gate is indicated at 14, and comprises an elongated member having flanges 15 projecting from its opposite ends and coextensive with the width of the gate for sliding engagement within the oppositely disposed channels 10 and 13 formed in the cleats and housings respectively. The thickness of the end gate is such as will permit of the same being readily inserted between the cleats and housings upon the side boards 6.

In the present embodiment of the invention, the ends of the gate 14 have secured thereto metallic strips 16, the said strips being equal in length to the width of the board, and being a trifle wider than the thickness of the board to provide the oppositely extending flanges 15 These strips are con,

nected by rods 17 extending through the end gate, the said rods forming reinforcing members for the gate.

To bind the ends of the gate 14 firmly against the cleat members 7, impinging levers 18 are arranged within the housings 12. These levers are pivoted at one end for rocking movement upon a bolt or pin 19 extending through its respective housing adj acent the lower end and forward edge thereof, a leaf spring being arranged within each housing to engage at one end 20 with the rear edge of its respective lever to force the same forwardly and beyond the forward edge of the housing and into frictional engagement with the gate end. This spring possesses sufficient tensile strength to firmly bind the gate ends against the cleats 7. The upper rearward edge of each lever is provided with a projection or lug 21 for engagement behind a. shoulder 22 formed on the lower edge of a horizontally disposed lock bolt 23 arranged for sliding movement in the upperportion of each housing. This shoulder 22 is disposed inwardly from the forward end of the lock bolt, the latter being rounded or'beveled as at 24 at the upper portion of its forward extremity as shown. A second notch or shoulder 25 is provided upon the lower edge of each look bolt, engaged with which is the opposite end 26 of the spring above mentioned, the said spring being held within the housing by the pins 27, and the tendency of the said spring ends is to force the lock bolt and impinging lever forwardly into the space between the housing and cleat. A. detent or stop mem ber 28 is arranged upon the lower edge of each lock bolt adjacent the rear extremity thereof, the said detent being so positioned as to aline vertically with the rear edge of the housing 12 when the said bolt is retracted and the forward end thereof withdrawn from engagement with the gate end. The

lock bolt extends at its rear extremitythrough the opening 29 formed in the rear edge of the housing, and may be moved downwardly to engage the stop or detent 28 with the rear wall of the housing when the said lock bolt is retracted. A ring or loop 30 is secured in the rear end of each lock bolt to facilitate withdrawal or retraction of the same. The rear surface of the end gate is provided adjacent its ends with longitudinally alined notched portions or shoulders 31 adapted to be engaged by the protruding ends of the lock bolts 23 to hold the said gate firmly against upward movement. The rear surfaceof the gate ends may be beveled or inclined inwardly toward the notched portions or shoulders as shown, and it is apparent that the ends of the lock bolts will be permitted to yieldably seat within the notched portions when the gate is inserted Within the channels. It is also apparent tions aline with the ends thereof.

that by beveling or inclining the upper por-- tions of the protruding ends of the lock bolts the gate may be readily inserted between the cleats and housings without retracting the bolts, the said bolts being automatically seated as the notched por- These notched portions may be arranged in vertical series within the gate ends so that the said gate may be adjusted to various degrees of raised or lowered positions.

From this construction it is apparent that the gate when n'operly positioned with its ends in. the channels will be locked against vertical movement, and the impinging levers 18 will force the gate ends firmly against the cleats 7, whereby rattling of the gate is obviated.

From the above description it is believed that the operation of the device is obvious, and. need not be here detailed. It is also apparent that various changes may be made in the minor details of construction without departing from the spirit of the invention or exceeding the scope of the claims.

lVhat is claimed is l In a device of the class described, the combination with a vehicle body having a gate end receiving channel; of a lever pivoted adjacent said channel and adapted to impinge against the gate end, a lock bolt adapted to extend into said channel. cooperating means on said lock bolt and lever for withdrawing the latter when the former is retracted, and a spring for normally holding said lever and bolt projected, substantially as described.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination with a vehicle body having a gate end receiving channel and a gate for engagement therein; the said gate end being provided with notches, a lock bolt mounted for sliding movement and adapted to engage in said notches, a lever pivoted adjacent said gate end and adapted to impinge the same, a shoulder on said lock bolt, a lug on said lever in engagement with said shoulder, a spring secured adjacent said gate end, one end of said spring engaging the lever and the other end engaging the lock bolt to hold the same extended, substantially as de scribed.

3. In a device of the class described, the

combination with a vehicle body, of a cleat and a housing arranged in spaced relation upon the side of said body, a lock bolt mounted for sliding movement in said housing and adapted to be projected therefrom toward said cleat, a lever pivoted in said housing and adapted to be projected toward said cleat, a pair of spaced shoulders on said bolt, a projection on said lever engaged with one of said shoulders, a spring engaged at one end with the other of said shoulders and at the opposite end with said lever to hold said bolt and lever projected, and means for holding said bolt retracted, substantially as described.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination with a vehicle body, of a cleat and housing arranged in spaced relation upon the side of said body, a gate, flanges projecting from the end of said gate for engagement between said cleat and housing, the said gate being provided with notches, and means in said housing for locking said gate and for impinging the same against said cleat, substantially as described.

6. In a device of the class described, a housing, a lock bolt mounted for sliding movement within said housing, a pair of spaced shoulders upon the lower edge of said bolt, a lever pivoted in said housing beneath said bolt, a lug on said lever engaged behind one of said shoulders, a spring within the housing engaged at one end with the other of said shoulders and at its opposite end with said lever for normally maintaining the bolt and lever projected from the housing, and a stop adjacent the rear end of said bolt for maintaining the latter and said lever retracted, substantiallyas described. V

7. In a device of the class described, the combination with a vehicle body, of a cleat secured to the side of said body, a casing secured to said side spaced from said cleat, a gate for engagement at its end between said housing and cleat, the said housing having a transverse opening, a lock bolt in said opening adapted for sliding engagement into and out of engagement with said gate, spaced shoulders on the lower edge of said bolt, a lever pivoted in said housing and adapted to be projected therefrom against said ate, a lug on said lever to be engaged by one of said bolt shoulders when the bolt is retracted, means for movably projecting said bolt and lever, and a stop on said lock bolt for engagement with said housing to hold the bolt and lever retracted, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, we aflix our signatures, in the presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT CROOK. CHARLES C. CROOK. VVILBUR OROOK. Witnesses:

AUGUST MILES, J OSEPI-I CoRNIsH.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Eatents, Washington, D. G. 

